Kaithal

Coordinates: 29°48′05″N 76°23′59″E / 29.8015°N 76.3998°E / 29.8015; 76.3998
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the municipality in India. For its namesake district, see Kaithal district.

Kaithal
Kapisthal
City
HR-08, HR-64 (for commercial vehicles)
Sex ratio887 ♂/♀[4]
Lok Sabha constituencyKurukshetra
Websitekaithal.gov.in

Kaithal (Hindi:

state of Haryana. Kaithal was previously a part of Karnal district and later, Kurukshetra district until 1 November 1989, when it became the headquarters of the Kaithal. It shares a border with the Patiala district of state Punjab and the Kurukshetra, Jind and Karnal districts of Haryana. Kaithal district is situated in the North-West of the Haryana state. Its North-West boundaries, which include Guhla-Cheeka are attached to Punjab
.

History

Mythology

Kaithal was known as Kapisthala during the Vedic period as seen in the map of the Indian subcontinent.

Historically the city was known as Kapisthal, meaning "Abode of Kapi", another name of Lord Hanuman, and it is said to have been founded by the Pandava Emperor, Yudhishthira of Mahabharata. The later word Kaithal is said to be derived from Kapisthala. It is traditionally connected with Hanuman and has a temple dedicated to Anjani, the mother of Hanuman. It is also said that it is the birthplace of Lord Hanuman and there is a temple constructed at that place known as "Anjani Tila" among the residents of Kaithal.[5]

The Vridhakedara (Vidkyar) sanctum of Kaithal finds a mention in the Vedic texts of

48 Kos Parikrama
pilgrimage.

Early and medieval history

Sirhind, and had developed into an agricultural centre.[7]

Razia Sulta, the first woman ruler of India, reigned as the Sultana of Delhi Sultanate from 1236 to 1240. She fled Delhi with Malik Altúniya after they were defeated on the 24th of Rabí'u-l awwal A.H. 638 (Oct. 1240), and reached Kaithal the next day, where their remaining forces abandoned them, and were killed on 13 November 1240.[8][9][10] The tomb of Rajia Begam is still found here. This aspect is still not well known outside Kaithal, but residents know about the Mazaar of Razia Begum even generations later.

Timur took the town in 1398, with his army massacring or plundering the inhabitants and destroying all villages along the way to Assandh. Many of the residents of Kaithal and the other cities had fled to Delhi in fear.[11]

Modern history

In 1767, the city fell into the hands of the

Scindhia dynasty of the Maratha Empire and paid tributes to the Marathas, until the Second Anglo-Maratha War of 1803–1805, after which the Marathas lost this territory to the British.[12][13][14] Bhai Udey Singh ruled over Kaithal and proved to be the last King. Bhai Udey Singh died on 14 March 1843. It became a municipality in 1867. In 1901, the town had a population of 14,408 and was the tehsil in the district of Karnal. The fort of the Bhais is still extant, and their title Bhai became common with the primary Jat Sikh rulers. Peoples of Kaithal took active part in the freedom struggle in 1857.[15][16][17]

Geographics

Topography

Kaithal is located at 29°48′05″N 76°23′59″E / 29.8015°N 76.3996°E / 29.8015; 76.3996.[18] It has an average elevation of 220 metres (721 feet).

Climate

Demographics

Religion in Kaithal (2011)[19]
Religion Percent
Hinduism
 
 96.46%
Sikhism
 
 2.47%
Islam
 
 0.64%
Others
 
 0.43%

As of the

Scheduled Castes population was 24,760. Kaithal had 28547 households in 2011.[1]

Hindi is the official language of Kaithal. Punjabi and English are additional official languages.[2][3]

Religion in Kaithal City
Religion Population
(1911)[20]: 20  		Percentage
(1911) 		Population
(1941)[21]: 30  		Percentage
(1941)
Hinduism [a] 6,546 50.7% 11,593 51.93%
Islam 6,002 46.48% 10,263 45.97%
Sikhism 241 1.87% 261 1.17%
Christianity 23 0.18% 49 0.22%
Others [b] 100 0.77% 159 0.71%
Total Population 12,912 100% 22,325 100%

Landmarks

Kaithal Fort

Ruins of Kaithal fortress, 2007. Kaithal Fort, which would have been from 1767 to 1843, the seat and residence of Royal family of Kaithal
Kaithal Fort after restoration, 2016

There exists the remains of the fort of the Bhais, and several Muslim tombs of the 13th century and later. The Kaithal fort has many gates made by British rulers and used to control the entry of trade goods and other items.

The fort was restored and renovated in 2016 (as seen in pictures). It now forms one of the most visible and important landmarks of Kaithal.

Tomb of Razia Sultana

Razia sultana tomb painting

The tomb of

Jat
people of the area. It is speculated that she might have been disinterred from Kaithal and then reburied at her tomb in Delhi.

Raziya al-Din (1205 in

Muslim princesses of the time, she was trained to lead armies and administer kingdoms if necessary.[22] Razia Sultan was the only woman ruler of both the Sultanate and the Mughal period, although other women ruled from behind the scenes.[23] Razia refused to be addressed as Sultana because it meant "wife or consort of a Sultan". She would answer only to the title "Sultan."[24]

One of the highest flags of India

In Kaithal a 22-by-14.6-metre (72 by 48 ft) national flag is hoisted 63 metres (207 ft) above the ground in Hanuman Vatika.[25]

48 Kos Temples

Main article:
48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra

Following two pilgrimage points of Kaithal town form part of Kurukshetra's 48 kos pariktrama.

Vidkyar Teerth (Vriddh Kedaar)

Vriddh Kedaar, or Vidkyaar as it is popularly known, is an important religious place for Hindus. This is one of the several pilgrimages in

48 kos parikrama of Kurukshetra. This pilgrimage has been mentioned in the ancient text of Vamana Purana also. Vaman Purana said: "Kapisthaleti vikhyatam sarvapatakanashanam yasmina sthitaha swayam devovridha kedara samgjijitaha" (2) (Translation: The destroyer of all devilish deeds, the famous Kapisthala sanctum is here because Lord Vridhakedara himself resides in it.) The Vridhakedara sanctum changed to "Vidkyara" as a result of the philological principle of "mukhasukha", or ease of speaking.[6]
It is located near pehowa chowk, the central point of Kaithal.

Shree Gyarah Rudri Mandir

It is one of the famous temples of city, where divine eleven Rudra were placed long ago. The temple is known for its art, architecture, beautiful scriptures and large area. A large statue of Hanuman complements the beauty of this temple.

Religious places

Anjani Teela

Anjani Ka Tilla

Anjani was the name of the mother of Lord Hanuman. Kaithal was earlier known as Kapisthal, the abode of monkeys (or monkey God, Hanuman).

Ancient Khandeshwar Temple

This is an ancient temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Gyrah Rudri Shiva Temple

Out of 108 Shiva Temples situated in the city, Gyrah-Rudri Temple is the most famous one of its own kind. Legend has it that it is at this place during Mahabharata era, Arjun had been conferred Pashupat Astra by praying to Lord Shiva.

Gurudwaras

  • Gurudwara Neem Sahib - This Gurudwara is located at the Dogra gate, near Sivan Gate on the Cheeka Pehowa Road, Kaithal.
This Gurudwara is dedicated to the Ninth Guru,
Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji. He stopped here on his way from Anandpur Sahib to Delhi. Guruji stayed at the site of Gurudwara Manji Sahib. Early in the morning, Guruji came to this place. After taking a bath at the Thandar Tirth (also referred to as the Dandhar Tirth), Guru sat in meditation under a neem tree at this place. A large congregation of people who had heard of the Guru's arrival gathered there. One amongst them suffered from high fever. Guruji gave him the leaves of the neem tree and he was cured. This place then came to be known as Neem Sahib. All gurpurabs are celebrated here. Langar is organised every month on Sangrand (the first day of the month in the lunar calendar). A local committee appointed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandhak Committee looks after the management of the Gurudwara.[26]
  • Gurudwara Topiyon Wala - Situated in the middle of the city, this is the only Gurudwara/Temple where
    Ramayan
    are recited together—a unique combination of Sikhism & Hinduism.
  • Gurudwara Manji Sahib - Gurdwara Manji Sahib is situated in Sethan Mohalla, near Hind Cinema. It is near the Gita Bhavan.
This Gurudwara is dedicated to the Ninth Guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur. Guru Tegh Bahadur, after emancipating the sangat of the Malwa region, arrived here from Baher. The Guru told a carpenter from Bahir, named Malla, that he wanted to go to Kaithal and asked if there was any Sikh devotee there. Malla replied that there were two houses belonging to Banias and one to a Sikh there. On reaching Kaithal, Malla asked Guru whose house he would like to go to first. Guru replied the one that is nearest. Malla took Guru to the house of a fellow carpenter, also named Malla, who served the Guru with great devotion. Pleased with his devotion, the Guru told him to light a lamp for 40 days in honour of the Guru's darbar and he would be blessed with a son. The carpenter had a son in due course and he donated this place to the Gurudwara. At the request of the banias, Guru visited their house for lunch. He blessed the spot by saying that kirtan (singing of devotional songs) would be the norm here. This is the site of the Gurudwaras Manji Sahib. Guru spent three days preaching the tenets of Sikhism here and then left for village Barne. The birth anniversaries of Guru Nanak Dev and Guru Gobind Singh are celebrated with great fervour here.[26]
  • Gurudwara Shri Patshahi Chevin Ate Nauvin Sahib - This Gurudwara is situated in the Village Cheeka, Kaithal. Cheeka is situated on the Patiala Kaithal Road. Guru Har Gobind and Guru Tegh Bahadur came here.
Guru Tegh Bahadur ji came here while he was going to Delhi. When Kashmiri Pandits came to Guru in Anandpur Sahib and requested to save them from Aurangzeb. Accepting there request Guru to sacrifice his life to save them Guru while going to Delhi Via Patiala, GURU came here to Bhai Galora Masand. He was Jathedar of Hansi to Hisar. There were followers along with Guru who wanted to accompany Guru to Delhi but Guru stopped them and asked them to return. Followers requested that they will not be able to live without them. Then Guru Tegh Bahadur told them visiting this place will give them the result of having darshan of Guru Tegh Bahadur. It is believed that who so ever will visit this place with devotions his/her wishes will be fulfilled.[27]
  • Gurudwara Sahib - This Gurudwara is situated in Nand Singh Wala village, Kaithal. This village is located at Punjab border.

Islamic religious places

Tomb of Sheikh Tayyab
  • Tomb of Sheikh Tayyab: The 16th-century tomb is situated in Kaithal city near Railway line. The words 'Sheikh' and Tayyab' stand for terms 'Fakir' (saint) and 'pure' Sufi saint Shah Kamal came to Kaithal from Bagdad. Sheikh Tayyab was a disciple and khalifa of Baba Shah Kamal. Sheikh Tayyab died sometime in the late 16th century AD. It is said that this tomb was constructed by Shah Sikandar,
    Mazar of Shah Sikandar Qadri Kaithaly
    the grandson of Shah Kamal. The tomb is built on a square plan, a popular style of Pathan architecture. The roof is surmounted by a bulbous dome and a lotus flower finial rests on an octagonal drum-base.

Sheikh Tayyab's actual name was Lala Maidni Mal and he was one of the advisors to Mughal Emperor Akbar. He converted to Islam at the hands of Shah Kamal Qadri. His descendants from his Hindu wife are called "Qanugo" and the place where they used to live is called Mohalla "Qanugoyan" in Kaithal. There was a tradition when someone from Qanugo used to get married, they used to send one pitcher of sweet drink (sherbet) to Sheikh Tayyab masjid (also known as masjid of mirrors) and one pitcher to Shah Kamal shrine.

Old Picture of Masjid of Mirrors near Sheikh Tayyab Mazar
Mazar of Baba Shah Kamal Qadri Kaithaly
  • Tomb of Shah Kamal Qadri and Shah Sikander Qadri (Baba Shah Kamal Lal Dayal): known as Peer Baba to visitors, situated near Gol Market. Shah Kamal Qadri's shrine is well known in sub-continent for the past 450 years. He came from Baghdad in the time of Mughal emperor Akbar.[28]

There was a famine in the times of Shah Kamal. When he learned of it, he asked to prepare two big pots of special food (Dalya). One was prepared by a Muslim and the other one was prepared by a Hindu Brahman. It was announced that people from all over the city can come to eat day and night and take away this Dalya to their homes as well. There was a miracle that despite thousands of people eating from this langar, big pots were still filled with food. When famine ended, this food was discontinued.

After that incident, it was a tradition that every year in the month of "sawan" rainy season, on all four Thursdays of rainy season, people of every religion prepared this special food "dalya" and sent it to the Dargah of Baba Shah Kamal to be distributed among the needy.

Transport

Rail

Kaithal Railway Station

The city have two railway stations named; Kaithal (KLE)

Kurukshetra railway station.[31] In 2015, a new express train connecting Chandigarh and Jaipur
via Kaithal has been started.

Road

The city is connected to the state capital Chandigarh through National Highway 152. SH-8 to Pundri in the east (NH 44 catches up from Karnal to Delhi).

Educational Institutes

Universities

Colleges

College Of Agriculture (Haryana Agricultural University)

Schools

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Census of India: Kaithal". www.censusindia.gov.in. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015)" (PDF). Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India. pp. 85–86. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b IANS (28 January 2010). "Haryana grants second language status to Punjabi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2019.
  4. ^ "Kaithal City Population Census 2011 - Haryana". Census Commission of India. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  5. ISBN 8178350173
    .
  6. ^ a b "NIC-Kaithal". kaithal.gov.in.
  7. ^ Sarkar of Sirhind - Kethal (Kaithal) Ain-i-Akbari.
  8. ^ [1] Archived 16 April 2015 at the Wayback Machine Introduction
  9. The History of India, as Told by Its Own Historians. The Muhammadan Period
    , 1867-1877.
  10. ^ "Razia Sultan Tomb".
  11. ISBN 9788185151342
    .
  12. ISBN 9788131732021
    . Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  13. ISBN 9788126903948
    . Retrieved 26 May 2012.
  14. ISBN 9788131708347
    – via Google Books.
  15. ISBN 81-8324-046-1
    .
  16. ISBN 0-85229-760-2
    .
  17. ^ Kaithal Town The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 14, p. 288-289.
  18. ^ "Maps, Weather, and Airports for Kaithal, India". www.fallingrain.com.
  19. ^ "C-1 Population By Religious Community - Kaithal City". census.gov.in. Retrieved 28 December 2019.
  20. ^ "Census of India 1911. Vol. 14, Punjab. Pt. 2, Tables". Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  21. ^ "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME VI PUNJAB PROVINCE". Retrieved 21 August 2022.
  22. ISBN 978-0670854349 Archived 27 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  23. ^ Table of Delhi Kings: Muazzi Slave King The Imperial Gazetteer of India, 1909, v. 2, p. 368..
  24. ISBN 8129134136
    .
  25. ^ "Monumental Flags". www.flagfoundationofindia.in.
  26. ^ a b "Historical Gurudwaras In Kaithal". www.historicalgurudwaras.com.
  27. ^ "HistoricalGurudwaras.com, e journey to Gurudwara Sahibs". www.historicalgurudwaras.com.
  28. ^ "Hazrat Shah Kamal Qadri Kaithaly". www.shah-kamal.com.
  29. ^ "Kaithal Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  30. ^ "New Kaithal Halt Railway Station". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 12 August 2017.
  31. ^ "Delhi-Kaithal train from this year". The Hindu. THindu. 27 February 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2014.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g "Colleges/Universities". kaithal.gov.in. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  1. ^ 1941 census: Including Ad-Dharmis
  2. ^ Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, others, or not stated

External links

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kaithal.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaithal.
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